Knee Pad

ABSTRACT

A knee pad is an apparatus that prevents the knee(s) of the user from making direct contact with a surface, is mounted to the knee area of the user through straps, and allows the user to utilize any padding. The knee pad includes a first strap, a second strap, a pad-receiving envelope, and an elastic tether. The first strap and the second strap allow the knee pad to be mounted to the knee area of the user. The first strap is a strip of material that can be wrapped around the thigh area of the user. The second strap is a strip of material that can be wrapped around the calf area of the user. The pad-receiving envelope can receive any padding that the user desires. The elastic tether allows the present invention to fit any size thigh and calf area of a user.

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patentapplication Ser. No. 62/434,909 filed on Dec. 15, 2016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to knee protection devices. Moreparticularly, the present invention is a knee pad which includes apad-receiving envelope which can receive any padding, straps to attachonto a limb of the user, and an elastic tether allowing the user toadjust the fitting of the present invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Knee pads are used for protecting knees of the user when participatingin physical activities or after an injury to the knees. Traditional kneepads provide their own padding preventing the user from choosing theirown padding in which the default padding may not be comfortable for theuser or simply does not provide sufficient cushioning. Traditional kneepads come in different sizes to accurately fit onto the user thoughthese sizes fall into a range of sizes rather than providing a perfectfit for the user. Also, the user could be a child and still growingwhere the knee pad will be too small for the user in the future.

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a kneepad which allows the user to choose their own padding and can beadjusted to a desired fit for the user. The present invention includes apad-receiving envelope which can receive any padding. The user canfreely insert and remove any padding from the envelope. The presentinvention also includes straps to attach onto a limb of the user. Thestraps are flexible and elastic to provide a tight fit around the limbof the user. The present invention also includes an elastic tether whichallows the user to adjust the fitting of the present invention. The kneepad is not a fixed size and may fit any user due to the user being ableto adjust the fitting through the elastic tether.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention displaying fixedend engaged to the free end.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describingselected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limitthe scope of the present invention.

In reference to FIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention is a knee padthat allows a user to easily attach a knee protection device and chooseany desired cushion 5. The knee pad comprises a first strap 1, a secondstrap 2, an elastic tether 4, and a pad-receiving envelope 3. The firststrap 1 is a strip of material to wrap around the thigh area of theuser. The second strap 2 is a strip of material to wrap around the calfarea of the user. The elastic tether 4 allows the present invention tobe adjusted to fit any user. The pad-receiving envelope 3 allows thepresent invention to receive a cushion 5. Therefore, providingprotection between the knee of the user and a surface on which the kneeof the user makes contact.

The general configuration of the aforementioned components allows thepresent invention to effectively and efficiently protect the knee of theof the user and allows the user to easily attach the present invention.With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first strap 1 and the second strap2 each comprise a fixed end 21 and a free end 22. The pad-receivingenvelope 3 comprises a base 32 and an opening 31. The opening 31 allowsthe pad-receiving envelope 3 to receive any padding. The base 32 and theopening 31 are positioned opposite to each other across thepad-receiving envelope 3. The fixed end 21 being attached to the freeend 22. The fixed end 21 of the first strap 1 is connected adjacent tothe elastic tether 4. The pad-receiving envelope 3 is connected adjacentto the elastic tether 4, opposite the fixed end 21 of the first strap 1.The elastic tether 4 is positioned adjacent to the opening 31. The fixedend 21 of the second strap 2 is connected adjacent to the pad-receivingenvelope 3, opposite the elastic tether 4. The fixed end 21 ispositioned adjacent to the base 32. The arrangement between thepad-receiving envelope 3, the elastic tether 4, the first strap 1 andthe second strap 2 positions the first strap 1 to be wrapped around thethigh area and the second strap 2 to be wrapped around the calf area ofthe user. The arrangement of the fixed end 21 prevents the first strap 1from being removed from the elastic tether 4. Similarly, the arrangementof fixed end prevents second strap 2 from being removed from thepad-receiving envelope 3. Both the fixed end 21 of the first strap 1 andthe pad-receiving envelope 3 are connected to the elastic tether 4 via asewing method. The fixed end 21 of the second strap 2 is connected tothe pad-receiving envelope 3 via a similar sewing method. However,different attachment mechanisms can be used in other embodiments of thepresent invention.

As seen in FIGS. 1 through 5, the first strap 1 and the second strap 2each may further comprise a pull-tab 23. The pull-tab 23 allows the userto easily detach the free end 22 from the fixed end 21. The pull-tab 23is connected adjacent to the free end 22. The arrangement of thepull-tab 23 allows the user to easily distinguish the free end 22 fromthe fixed end 21. The first strap 1 and the second strap 2 each mayfurther comprise a fastener 24, an inner lateral surface 25, and anouter lateral surface 26 such that a distance between the inner lateralsurface 25 and the outer lateral surface 26 determines an overallthickness of the first strap 1 and the second strap 2. When consideringthe positioning, the elastic tether 4 is connected onto the innerlateral surface 25 of the first strap 1 adjacent to the fixed end 21 ofthe first strap 1. Moreover, the pad-receiving envelope 3 is connectedonto the inner lateral surface 25 of the second strap 2 adjacent to thefixed end 21 of the second strap 2.

With reference to FIG. 5, the fastener 24 can vary in differentembodiments of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, thefastener 24 comprises a first interlocking portion 241 and a secondinterlocking portion 242. The first interlocking portion 241 isconnected across the outer lateral surface 26, adjacent to the fixed end21. The second interlocking portion 242 is connected across the innerlateral surface 25, adjacent to the free end 22. The arrangement betweenthe fastener 24, the inner lateral surface 25, and the outer lateralsurface 26 allows the user to attach the fixed end 21 to the free end22. Thus, when the present invention is in use, the first interlockingportion 241 is engaged to the second interlocking portion 242. Thearrangement of the first interlocking portion 241 and the secondinterlocking portion 242 allows the user to attach the free end 22 tothe fixed end 21 when the first strap 1 and the second strap 2 arewrapped around the thigh area and calf area. In the preferred embodimentof the present invention, the fastener 24 is a hook-and-loop fastenerthat provides a convenient means to attach the free end 22 to the fixedend 21.

The elastic tether 4 is connected onto the inner lateral surface 25 ofthe first strap 1. The pad-receiving envelope 3 is connected onto theinner lateral surface 25 of the second strap 2. This arrangement allowsthe user to wrap the first strap 1 and the second strap 2 around thigharea and the calf area without any obstruction from the limbs of theuser.

As seen in FIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention may further comprisea cushion 5 that is positioned inside of the pad-receiving envelope 3.The cushion 5 prevents the knee of the user from making direct contactwith an external surface. In one embodiment of the present invention,the cushion 5 is a foam pad. The foam pad provides adequate protectionfor the knee of the user. In a second embodiment of the presentinvention, the cushion 5 is a carpet pad. The carpet pad provides a morerigid cushion protection for the knee. The cushion 5 positioned insideof the pad-receiving envelope 3 can vary in different embodiments toprovide different levels of protection for the knee.

The elastic tether 4 comprises a first band 41 and a second band 42. Thefixed end 21 of the first strap 1 is terminally connected to the firstband 41 and the second band 42. The pad-receiving envelope 3 isterminally connected to the first band 41 and the second band 42,opposite the fixed end 21 of the first strap 1. The first band 41 andthe second band 42 provide rigidity to the elastic tether 4. In thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, the first band 41 and thesecond band 42 are arranged in a crisscross configuration so that thefirst band 41 and the second band 42 provide uniform compression andexpansion when adjusting the elastic tether 4.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first strap 1 and the second strap2 each may further comprise an elastic portion 2 allowing the firststrap 1 and second strap 2 to be comfortably wrapped around the kneearea of the user. The elastic portion 27 is positioned between the fixedend 21 and the free end 22. The arrangement of the elastic portion 27allows the user to uniformly expand the first strap 1 and the secondstrap 2 when wrapping the first strap 1 and the second strap 2 aroundthe thigh and calf. In the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, a length of the first strap 271 is longer than a length ofthe second strap 272. The length of the first strap 271 is longer thanthe length of the second strap 272 because the first strap 1 is meant tobe wrapped around the thigh area which typically is a larger size thanthe calf area.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment, it is to be understood that many other possiblemodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A knee pad comprises: a first strap; a secondstrap; an elastic tether; a pad-receiving envelope; the first strap andthe second strap each comprise a fixed end and a free end; thepad-receiving envelope comprises a base and an opening; the fixed endbeing attached to the fixed end; the base and the opening beingpositioned opposite to each other across the pad-receiving envelope; thefixed end of the first strap being connected adjacent to the elastictether; the pad-receiving envelope being connected adjacent to theelastic tether, opposite the fixed end of the first strap; the elastictether being positioned adjacent to the opening; the fixed end of thesecond strap being connected adjacent to the pad-receiving envelope,opposite the elastic tether; and the fixed end being positioned adjacentto the base.
 2. The knee pad as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the firststrap and the second strap each further comprise a pull-tab; and thepull-tab being connected adjacent to the free end.
 3. The knee pad asclaimed in claim 1 comprises; the first strap and the second strap eachfurther comprise a fastener, an inner lateral surface, and an outerlateral surface; the fastener comprises a first interlocking portion anda second interlocking portion the first interlocking portion beingconnected across the outer lateral surface, adjacent to the fixed end;the second interlocking portion being connected across the inner lateralsurface, adjacent to the free end; and the first interlocking portionbeing engaged to the second interlocking portion.
 4. The knee pad asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the fastener is a hook-and-loop fastener. 5.The knee pad as claimed in claim 1 comprises: a cushion; and the cushionbeing positioned inside of the pad-receiving envelope.
 6. The knee padas claimed in claim 5, wherein the cushion is a foam pad.
 7. The kneepad as claimed in claim 5, where in the cushion is a carpet pad.
 8. Theknee pad as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the elastic tether comprises afirst band and a second band; the fixed end of the first strap beingterminally connected to the first band and the second band; and thepad-receiving envelope being terminally connected to the first band andthe second band, opposite the fixed end of the first strap.
 9. The kneepad as claimed in claim 6 comprises: the first band and the second bandbeing arranged in a crisscross configuration.
 10. The knee pad asclaimed in claim 1 comprises; the first strap and the second strap eachfurther comprise an elastic portion; and the elastic portion beingpositioned in between the fixed end and the free end.
 11. The knee padas claimed in claim 1, wherein a length of the first strap is longerthan a length of the second strap.
 12. The knee pad as claimed in claim1 comprises; the first strap and the second strap each further comprisean inner lateral surface; the elastic tether being connected onto theinner lateral surface of the first strap; and the pad-receiving envelopebeing connected onto the inner lateral surface of the second strap. 13.A knee pad comprises: a first strap; a second strap; an elastic tether;a pad-receiving envelope; a cushion; the cushion being positioned insideof the pad-receiving envelope; the first strap and the second strap eachcomprise a fixed end and a free end; the pad-receiving envelopecomprises a base and an opening; the fixed end being attached to thefixed end; the base and the opening being positioned opposite to eachother across the pad-receiving envelope; the fixed end of the firststrap being connected adjacent to the elastic tether; the pad-receivingenvelope being connected adjacent to the elastic tether, opposite thefixed end of the first strap; the elastic tether being positionedadjacent to the opening; the fixed end of the second strap beingconnected adjacent to the pad-receiving envelope, opposite the elastictether; and the fixed end being positioned adjacent to the base.
 14. Theknee pad as claimed in claim 13 comprises: the first strap and thesecond strap each further comprise a pull-tab; and the pull-tab beingconnected adjacent to the free end.
 15. The knee pad as claimed in claim13 comprises; the first strap and the second strap each further comprisea fastener, an inner lateral surface, and an outer lateral surface; thefastener comprises a first interlocking portion and a secondinterlocking portion; the fastener being a hook-and-loop fastener; thefirst interlocking portion being connected across the outer lateralsurface, adjacent to the fixed end; the second interlocking portionbeing connected across the inner lateral surface, adjacent to the freeend; the first interlocking portion being engaged to the secondinterlocking portion; the elastic tether being connected onto the innerlateral surface of the first strap; and the pad-receiving envelope beingconnected onto the inner lateral surface of the second strap.
 16. Theknee pad as claimed in claim 13, wherein the cushion is a foam pad. 17.The knee pad as claimed in claim 13, where in the cushion is a carpetpad.
 18. The knee pad as claimed in claim 13 comprises: the elastictether comprises a first band and a second band; the fixed end of thefirst strap being terminally connected to the first band and the secondband; the pad-receiving envelope being terminally connected to the firstband and the second band, opposite the fixed end of the first strap; andthe first band and the second band being arranged in a crisscrossconfiguration.
 19. The knee pad as claimed in claim 13 comprises; thefirst strap and the second strap each further comprise an elasticportion; and the elastic portion being positioned in between the fixedend and the free end.
 20. The knee pad as claimed in claim 13, wherein alength of the first strap is longer than a length of the second strap.